11/23/2022
Today is Thanksgiving Day Eve, and Isaiah gives us another verse to encourage us in regard to giving thanks to the Lord our God as we prepare to join with friends and family in thanking Him together for all that we have received over the past year. The point we should dwell on as we enter into thanksgiving is that we are not writing a letter and placing it in the mailbox for the postman to deliver, or typing an email and hitting the send button hoping it makes it across the internet to Him… No, God is in our midst, and when we thank him in prayer He is right there hearing our every word, every song, and joining in our revelry. Our Heavenly Father is the guest of honor at our festivities, and is receiving the gift of our thanks in person…
“Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.””
Isaiah 12:6 ESV
When we are in a quiet place while praying it is easy to forget that the Lord of all Creation is right there with us, knowing our heart, and hearing our every word. We are not praying to Him, but with Him. When we are celebrating with our friends and we open the event with a prayer it is easy to rush through our prayer and treat it like an aside. In the midst of our revelry we often forget that our creator, and the giver of all things, even what we are celebrating, is there amongst us. How many times must we hear God tell us that He is with us, or recall the words of Jesus, before we understand…
“teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Matthew 28:20 ESV
Today, on this Thanksgiving Eve, as we prepare to thank God together as families, as a people, and nations, let’s thank Him individually for this day, and His presence here with us right now. As we pray let’s do so for the safe travels of our families and guests to tomorrow’s banquet and celebratory gathering with Him. Let’s ask the Lord to keep us safe, to help us in our preparation for the thanksgiving meal, and most of all, let’s ask Him to send His Holy Spirit to prepare us spiritually for the coming day of joyous togetherness with Him. Let’s ask that before we gather to offer Him our gift of thanksgiving prayer that all arguments are settled, and that we each forgive, and find ourselves forgiven… that all strife between us be resolved… let’s make this our prayer today that leads us righteously into tomorrow.
“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
Matthew 5:23-24 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for this day, and your many blessings we have received in it. Thank you, Lord, for opening our eyes to being reconciled with one another so that we can offer you our thanksgiving in the morrow with a truly joyous heart, and in a spirit of love, and righteousness. Holy, Holy, Holy are you our God who is worthy of all thanks, and glory. Praised be your name for your every blessing, but especially your peace in our lives, and for the peace we long for between one another. Merciful are you who comforts us in our sorrows, and gives us joy everlasting. Wash us now in the blood of your Son Jesus, and prepare us for a Holy gathering with you. This is our prayer today so that our joint thanksgiving tomorrow will be without blemish or bitterness in our hearts as we bow before you and pray in the name of Jesus… the Prince of Peace.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 ESV
Rich Forbes